Acapulco 500 2014 R1: Andy Murray vs Pablo Andujar

I really don't think it is that. I think we are all underestimating the skill level of playing at the level he does. He has had time out, it is taking time to get everything back together. ...

That first set to me just looked like everything was completely out of kilter, it is taking him longer at the moment to refine every thing. Once he did he was deadly.

I think realistically his "minor back surgery" falls into the same elastic interpretation of the truth that is so beloved of politicians. I am increasingly thinking it was less minor than he is letting on.

I think that's a realistic assessment, and fits with what Navratalova said. Then again, he's always had these moments, so hard to tell!

IMO, there is no such thing as a minor back surgery, but I do believe that it will have been minor compared with a lot of other back surgeries. Or at least it would have been if Andy weren't such an elite athlete. Arguably, Andy is seeing the benefits of the actual surgery, just still coming to terms from the time off it required.

I missed the match, due to sleeping. A good move in retrospect, especially as I am the only one in my office who hasn't succumbed to a heavy cold and I want to keep it that way.

I really don't think it is that. I think we are all underestimating the skill level of playing at the level he does. He has had time out, it is taking time to get everything back together. His fine tuning is still quite off. What ranking did Del Potro drop to when he was out with his last injury?

That first set to me just looked like everything was completely out of kilter, it is taking him longer at the moment to refine every thing. Once he did he was deadly.

I think realistically his "minor back surgery" falls into the same elastic interpretation of the truth that is so beloved of politicians. I am increasingly thinking it was less minor than he is letting on.

I agree about the operation. I am sure it was more major than they are letting on. As for hip or knee surgery, they always have you up straight as the joints are strong and need the surrounding muscles to be as strong as possible to avoid dislocation. Back operations are far more delicate and you are unable to move about due to the fact the the op. is very close to the spinal cord.

I have had both hips replaced recently and was up within 8 hours of the op. but I have q friends who have had back surgery. One was able to move very carefully for a coupe of weeks and the other was lying down for over a week. The recovery from the back operations takes longer than joint replacements.

In the end so was I. From halfway through the second set it was clear that Andy was in control of the match and himself. He has come back with a new maturity and belief.

I also know how hard it is to get back up to match fitness which is when you go out there and do well because you can and expect to. It is more mental than physical. Running is similar all about belief and going for it. I would have loved to have seen him just slot in as the top three player that he should be quickly but do see it will take time.

My expectations always have been for for him to make semis for a while rather than the quarters achieved at previous events as he gets gradually gets back into his stride.

I shall go and research Sousa to see what sort of game we might see next. Same time 4.00am! Have just one more section of re-grouting left to do around the bath now so that can be tomorrow after the match?

Still unimpressed of Andy. Very poor first set. Good fight to win this match tho. Will be interesting to see if he can go deep in this tournament.

Pablo came out full of confidence and all guns blazing. Please remember he had match points against Raffa. The Comms said this was a huge boost.Andy just couldn't get his game going, but once he started moving and finding the lines he was able to claw his way back into the first set. he then played really well, moved in and started to take Pablo's serve and returns early and went onto only lose 3 games in 2 sets.I think this match will set him up for the rest of the tournament, fighting back and winning fairly easily in the end will have boosted his confidence.Re Andy's back surgery I have posted a couple of times that Andy's surgery was not minor, but major back surgery, because he had to spend 2 weeks lying down, if it had been minor he would have been able to sit up and move around, in fact he would have been encouraged to take light exercise the next day. Also 3 hour ops are never minor.

Andy seems to have an easier match than Ferrer up next. He plays Lopez and has only a 6-5 record against his fellow Spaniard. If Lopez make it level I am sure all parts of the Murray household will be pleased? It is possible! Would help make a final easier if Ferrer were not there and help a lot with cutting the rankings gap. I dream - must forget it. Last time I thought similar for others to lose Andy slipped up.

As yet I've only seen the latter stages of the third set (I know, I'm cheating!) but the thing that strikes me is that Andy only came back from the surgery in January. It's still only February. It's a lot to ask that he should come back from four months out after a back op, regardless of how minor it might have been, on an injury he's had for two years, with the game he has and be playing his best within about 6 or 7 weeks.

In retrospect Andujar was probably always going to come out firing, given his recent form. I doubt he's daft as well, he would probably have known Andy is still finding his feet, so it sounds like he played his best. The key though, is that it sounds like Andy regrouped well and found his form, which has to be good. In the bits I've seen Andy was playing some lovely stuff. He might have been a bit too cute at times, but maybe that's a sign of growing confidence.

Who knows, but I do know that my 71-year old sister went into hospital at 7 am on Monday and by midday she was texting me to say she'd had her knee replaced under epidural and the physio had her up and about by teatime. By comparison, Andy should have been running a marathon the day after his op <g>

Surely you can't be that stupid? (Sorry no other word will do).

1) There is a radical difference between an operation under epidural and one under a General Anaesthetic.2) Your sister is 71, what constitutes recovery for a 71 year old is very different to what is recovery for a fit young sportsman with a very different injury.

I can only assume your post is a rather pathetic attempt at trolling.

For the record I had a hip replacement at 46, I was hobbling with a walking frame 2 days later, but still needing to walk with the aid of a crutch 5 months later. By that comparison Andy Murray is simply amazing to to be able to walk unaided 4 months later, much less beat the guy who had match points against Nadal. There really are some complete fools on here.

What would I do without this site? BBC ignored the match completely during the night and come morning the result was'nt there at 6am We don't deserve Andy A real frightening match according to posters but a win is a win Let's hope it gives Andy more confidence Thanks to all

Surely discussion on the severity of the operation and the manner of recovery is not easily comparable. First the symptoms and the problem vary a lot, then the advice and treatment has to be specific to the individual problem and finally the recovery process options cover a wide range of ideas. Two people with apparently similar problems can have vastly different treatments and outcomes. Whatever the specialists did and however the recovery was organised Andy is now playing again and apparently free from pain. I am thankful for that. It has now to be put aside and for us to support his aim to get to the top. There are no "what if's" in sport. The subject of his back operation should be closed. He needs to play without it in his mind.

What would I do without this site? BBC ignored the match completely during the night and come morning the result was'nt there at 6am We don't deserve Andy A real frightening match according to posters but a win is a win Let's hope it gives Andy more confidence Thanks to all

In fairness, there was an update on the Scottish radio news at 5.45am while the match was still in progress.